Chicago Bulls Rumors: Nikola Mirotic Nearly Traded at Deadline, May Be out of Rotation

After assembling so much talent with so little shooting, it was clear that players like Mirotic, former Bulls forward Dug McDermott, and rookie guard Denzel Valentine would need to shoot at high levels if Chicago was to have a successful season.

Unfortunately, the once sought-after prospect Mirotic has seen his shooting totally abandon him this season as he has averaged 9.1 points per game on 39 percent shooting and 30 percent shooting from three, the area he was needed most.

Now, it looks like his stock with the Bulls has fallen accordingly with his performance, with reports that the front office tried to trade him for a first-round pick before the trade deadline, and that he may now be out of coach Fred Hoiberg’s rotation.

It’s no secret that Gar Forman and John Paxson were trying desperately to find a buyer for Mirotic before the trade deadline in February. The Bulls front office reportedly wanted a first round draft pick in return. Unfortunately, none of the other executives around the league ever got drunk enough to make that happen, and Niko stayed.”

The report that Mirotic is likely out of the rotation came from Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson:

Hoiberg's "we'll see how the flow of the game is going" is code for "he's out of the rotation." That's what he said about Niko today.

A player being out of Hoiberg’s rotation doesn’t necessarily mean he is done with the team forever — just ask basically any point guard the Bulls have had this season. But that paired with the rumors of Chicago pushing to trade the third-year forward are not encouraging for the young player’s future with the team.

Mirotic’s rookie contract expires at the end of this season and he will become a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls would be able to match any contract offered by another team.

About the author

Jake Hirsohn is a journalist, podcast host, and NBA addict. His other interests include pop music, romantic comedies lacking in self-awareness, and the San Francisco Giants. Most importantly, he's a film school dropout and a writer for Windy City Hoops.